Be Your Own Creative Director When You Custom Make Your Own Shirt

When you custom make your own shirt, you take on the responsibility of creative director, designer, fabricator, and project manager.  It may seem overwhelming at first, but it only serves to simplify an already simple process that only involves two major steps:  Conception, and creation.  Once you know the specifics of your idea basically all you have left to do is put the pieces together. 

You can do this on your own using some books or the internet to find instructional videos and worksheets, or you can hire someone to take your ideas and see them through to completion.  Also, a combination of these might serve you well. The decision is yours depending on what kind of commitment you can make.

If you choose to go through this process on your own, you will most likely need to start with the design concept.  “Begin at the end” is a common philosophy with projects that start from scratch and to custom make your own shirt is no different.  Knowing what you want the finished project to look and feel like will give you a better idea of how to start.  What types of fabric do you want to use?  Will this be a casual tee or sweatshirt?  Perhaps it’s a sporty hoodie or maybe a trendier look with a collar and buttons.  These specifics are important to determine early in the project because you will need to plan for the amount of fabric you use and the types of accessories (if any).

Maybe you’re design is not as elaborate and you are using a garment you already own, or something pre-fabricated from your local store.  At this point, then, it is necessary to finalize your logo design in order to custom make your own shirt and have it feel truly original.  If it’s for your son’s baseball team or your local PTA, school emblems are an easy start, but if it’s for a company party or a family reunion you may need to do a little research or get creative with a collection of ideas before moving forward. 

Now that you have your fabric or prefabricated shirt and you’ve settled on a design, it’s time custom make your own shirt with its actual construction.  Iron-on screens are the easiest—typically inexpensive and quick to apply.  They don’t require any special training or skill.  Embroidered patches are also common on more high-quality garments, especially those with more fabric integrity.  Whatever your means to attach your logo or emblem to the cloth itself, it’s the final step so make sure it’s exactly what you want.

If you need help deciding on a fabric or choosing a design, you could look online to find ideas.  Some websites might be able to give you advice on a strategy to custom make your own shirt.  Turning to the internet has become more and more popular with wikis and tutorials as well as private companies with all the supplies you need.  It’s often a one-stop-shop to get it all done from the comfort of your own home.